Brownback Decries EPA Carbon Emissions Rule

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback says a new federal rule for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants is a “war against middle America” that will increase energy costs.

The Republican governor criticized the rule Monday after the Environmental Protection Agency’s administrator unveiled it in Washington. It gives states goals for reducing emissions but allows flexibility in meeting them.

According to the EPA, the Kansas target would be a 23 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 from 2012 levels.

The EPA unveiled the rule three days after Kansas gave the go-ahead for a new, $2.8 billion coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas. Environmentalists said the plant would hinder Kansas’ efforts to comply with the EPA rule.

Brownback defended the decision on the power plant, saying its construction develops clean coal technology.